Hook Clamp

ABSTRACT

A hook clamp includes a clamping module and a base. The clamping module includes a curved member and a movable member. The curved member includes a head. The movable member includes a groove corresponding to the curved member and an engaging member corresponding to the head. The base includes a rail and a limiting member. The rail is configured to guide a motion of the movable member. The limiting member is configured to limit the curved member to move between a first position and a second position. The head is pushed by the limiting member to engage the engaging member when the movable member moves along the rail to the first position. The first end portion of the curved member is pushed by the limiting member so that the head is separated from the engaging member when the movable member moves along the rail to the second position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority of China Patent Application No. 201410608800.1, filed on Oct. 31, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a clamp, and more particularly to a hook clamp.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is important for most people to have a good sleep, especially in the modern era where people lead such busy lifestyles. A comfortable bed is required for the good sleep. However, a bottom sheet laid on a mattress often slides to the end of the bed after one night's sleep, and people need to remake the bottom sheet every time before sleeping. Further, the sliding bottom sheet is generally wrinkled and people lying thereon do not feel comfortable. Although some beds have railings, the sliding of the bottom sheet still cannot be prevented. Even worse, the wrinkling problem may become more serious and more ironing work is required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a hook clamp capable of clamping or hooking different kinds of bottom sheets, thereby preventing the sliding and wrinkling of a bottom sheet and improving the user experience.

The hook clamp in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a clamping module and a base. The clamping module includes a curved member and a movable member. The curved member includes a head and a first end portion opposite to the head. The movable member includes a groove corresponding to the curved member and an engaging member corresponding to the head. The base includes a rail and a limiting member. The rail is configured to guide a motion of the movable member. The limiting member is configured to limit the curved member to move between a first position and a second position. The head is pushed by the limiting member to engage the engaging member when the movable member moves along the rail to the first position. The first end portion of the curved member is pushed by the limiting member so that the head is separated from the engaging member to serve as a hook when the movable member moves along the rail to the second position.

In another exemplary embodiment, the curved member is a rocker, the engaging member of the movable member is an engaging groove, the curved member further includes a second end portion from which the head extends downward, a plurality of connecting posts disposed on two lateral sides of the curved member, and the movable member further includes a rocker groove corresponding to the rocker, a plurality of notches corresponding to the connecting posts, and a force receiving part.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the base further includes a securing flange.

In another exemplary embodiment, the curved member further includes a first stopping member transversely disposed on the first end portion of the curved member.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the movable member further includes a second stopping member disposed beside an end of the rocker groove.

The invention further provides a bed. The bed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a mattress, a bottom sheet, and a hook clamp. The hook clamp is mounted on the mattress for securing the bottom sheet to the mattress.

In another exemplary embodiment, the mattress is an inflatable mattress.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the hook clamp is welded to the inflatable mattress.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a rocker of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a movable member of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an assembly of the rocker of FIG. 1 and the movable member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a base of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a clamp in an engaging state, which includes the assembly of FIG. 3 and the base of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 depicts a clamp in a release state, which includes the assembly of FIG. 3 and the base of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7a depicts a bed with a bottom sheet clamped by a clamp of the invention;

FIGS. 7b and 7c depict a procedure of clamping a bottom sheet to a bed by a clamp of the invention;

FIGS. 7d and 7e depict a state that a clamp of the invention has clamped a bottom sheet to a bed; and

FIG. 8a depicts a bed with a fitted sheet hooked by a clamp of the invention;

FIG. 8b depicts the elastic band of the fitted sheet of FIG. 8a , hooked by a clamp of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a hook clamp of the invention includes at least one clamping module. The clamping module includes a curved member and a movable member 20. In this embodiment, the curved member is a rocker 10. The rocker 10 includes a curved body, a head 11 disposed on an end portion of the curved body, two connecting posts 12 disposed on two lateral sides of the curved body, and a first stopping member disposed on the other end portion of the curved body. The first stopping member is a rib 13 in this embodiment.

The movable member 20 includes a groove adapted to the curved member, and an engaging member adapted to the head 11. In this embodiment, the groove is a rocker groove 23 adapted to the rocker 10, and the engaging member is an engaging groove 21 adapted to the head 11. The movable member 20 further includes notches 22 adapted to the connecting posts 12, and a force receiving part 24. The rocker 10 is rotatably connected to the movable member 20 through the connecting posts 12 rotatably disposed in the notches 22. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable member 20 further includes a second stopping member. In this embodiment, the second stopping member is a boss 25 disposed beside an end of the rocker groove 23.

Referring to FIG. 4, the hook clamp of the invention further includes a base 30. The base 30 includes a rail 31 adapted to the movable member 20 and a limiting member 32 for limiting a motion of the rocker 10. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the base 30 further includes a securing flange 33 through which the base 30 can be secured to a bed. In this embodiment, the bed is an inflatable bed and the hook clamp is welded to the inflatable bed.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the force receiving part 24 is pushed up to be moved along the rail 31 to a first position, the limiting member 32 pushes the head 11 downward so that the head 11 engages with the engaging groove 21. Referring to FIG. 6, when the movable member 20 is pulled down to be moved along the rail 31 to a second position, the limiting member 32 pushes down the end portion of the rocker 10 on which the rib 13 is disposed so that the head 11 moves up to leave the engaging groove 21. As a result, the head 11 becomes a hook extending at a predetermined angle and capable of pulling or hooking something. During the process of pushing/pulling the movable member 20, the rib 13 is able to prevent separation of the rocker 10 from the movable member 20, and the bosses 25 are able to prevent separation of the movable member 20 from the base 30.

Referring to FIG. 7a , a plurality of hook clamps 60 are disposed on lateral sides of an inflatable bed 50. The hook clamps 60 are able to clamp a bottom sheet 40 which has no elastic band, in accordance with the following way: the bottom sheet 40 is placed on the inflatable bed 50 to cover the hook clamp 60. The outer edge of the bottom sheet 40 is put against the movable member 20 by two fingers. The force receiving part 24 with the bottom sheet 40 is moved upwards by the fingers so that the head 10 is lowered down with the movement of the force receiving part 24 to engage the engaging groove 21 as shown in FIGS. 7d and 7e and thus the bottom sheet 40 is clamped between the head 11 and the engaging groove 21. When the force receiving part 24 is pulled downward, the end portion of the rocker 10 with the rib 13 is lowered so that the head 11 is lifted and separated from the engaging groove 21 and the bottom sheet 40 is not clamped by the hook clamp and can be removed.

Alternatively, the hook clamps 60 are able to hook a fitted sheet 70 which has an elastic band 71 disposed at the outer edges thereof as shown in FIG. 8a . In this example, the head 11 of the rocker 10 is separated from the engaging groove 21 to serves as a hook for hooking the elastic band 71 as shown in FIG. 8b . Thus, the fitted sheet 70 is secured to the inflatable bed 50 by the hook clamps 60.

From the above descriptions, it is understood that embodiments of the hook clamp of the invention prevent the sliding and winkles of a bottom sheet so as to improve sleep quality and reduce the time for making bed.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hook clamp, comprising: a clamping module comprising a curved member and a movable member, wherein the curved member comprises a head and a first end portion opposite to the head, and the movable member comprises a groove corresponding to the curved member and an engaging member corresponding to the head; and a base comprising a rail and a limiting member, wherein the rail is configured to guide a motion of the movable member, and the limiting member is configured to limit the curved member to move between a first position and a second position; wherein the head is pushed by the limiting member to engage the engaging member when the movable member moves along the rail to the first position; wherein the first end portion of the curved member is pushed by the limiting member so that the head is separated from the engaging member when the movable member moves along the rail to the second position.
 2. The hook clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved member is a rocker, the engaging member of the movable member is an engaging groove, the curved member further comprises a second end portion from which the head extends downward, a plurality of connecting posts disposed on two lateral sides of the curved member, and the movable member further comprises a rocker groove corresponding to the rocker, a plurality of notches corresponding to the connecting posts, and a force receiving part.
 3. The hook clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a securing flange.
 4. The hook clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the curved member further comprises a first stopping member transversely disposed on the first end portion of the curved member.
 5. The hook clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable member further comprises a second stopping member disposed beside an end of the rocker groove.
 6. A bed, comprising: a mattress; a bottom sheet; and the hook clamp as claimed in claim 1, mounted on the mattress for securing the bottom sheet to the mattress.
 7. The bed as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mattress is an inflatable mattress.
 8. The bed as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hook clamp is welded to the inflatable mattress. 